Clock



May 19, 1953 M. E. scHLENKER 2,638,735

CLOCK Filed July 3, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MAX E. SCHLENKE?ATTORNEY May 19, 1953 M. E. SCHLENKER CLOCK 3 Sheets-Shee'c 3 Filed July3, 1950 INVENTOR. MAX E, 5CHLENKR ATTORNEY Patented May 19, 1953 CLOCKMax E. Schlenker, Peru, Ill., assignor to General Time Corporation, NewYork, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application July 3, 1950, SerialNo. 171,797

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a clock, and without being limited thereto, isparticularly applicable to an electric wall clock. In the past one ofthe problems connected with wall clocks was the necessity of supplyingthem in several colors so that the purchaser could select a color tosuit the decorative scheme of the room in which the clock was to beused. The manufacturer wasv also faced with a second problem, namely thelength of the electric cord. If the cord were made long enough to reachthe electrical outlet in certain locations, it was sure to dangle whenhung in a location nearer to an outlet.

Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide aclock having a case part that is removable Without tools so that theconsumer can change the color scheme of said clock by merely replacingsaid case part.

A second object is to provide a clock having means to support a cord onthe clock so that the consumer may select the length of cord that hangsfrom said clock or he may conceal the entire cord.

Another object is to provide an improved clock that may be manufacturedfor low cost and is exceptionally simple to assemble.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment of the invention taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of a clock embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a back elevational view of said clock;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, withthe cord not shown;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational View of a detachable case part removedfrom the clock case;

Fig; 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an elevational View of the back plat removed from the clock;and i Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line l-l of Fig. 6.

Referring now to Fig. 1, reference numeral I0 designates a clock casepreferably moulded of plastic, but which may be made of other suitablematerials, such as wood or metal.

The case IU includes a central portion I I generally hemispherical inshape; a series of cut-out numerals or other indicia I2 surrounding saidcentral portion; and a ring portion I3 surrounding said numerals. Aseries of cut-outs or openings I4 in the case are defined by the outerborder of the central portion I I, the inner border of the ring portionI3 and the spaced numerals l2. A

removable ring I5 is positioned behind the numerals I2 so that portionsof the ring can be seen through the openings I4.

Turning now to Figs. 2 and 3, three bosses I6 are moulded in the rear ofthe central portion I I of the case. A back plate I'I is secured to saidbosses by self-tapping screws 98. As will be further described, the backplate I1 performs several functions including supporting the movement,providing a receptacle for the electric cord, and providing fasteningmeans for the removable ring I5.

The back plate Il may be made of any suitable material, but steel oraluminum is preferred. The back plate is formed with a raised centralportion I'8 generally circular in outline except for a sector I9. Thesector I9 and a iiange 20 are in the same plane. As shown in Fig. 2,when the back plate I1 is assembled in the clock case an annular channel2l, having a U-shaped cross-section, is formed by the raised portion I8,the flange 20 and the inside of the central portion I I of the clockcase.

Two series of lingers are formed on the periphery of the iiange 20. Inone series, four ngers 22 are bent toward the center of the back plateso that they project over the channel 2l and almost touch the raisedportion I8. The purpose of these iingers is to retain an electric cord23 in said channel.

A second series of fingers 24 project from the flange at right angles,and are bent over outwardly at their ends. The lingers 24 should beresilient or spring-like. Therefore, if the back plate II is made of amaterial such as aluminum, it may be preferable to fasten steel fingers24 to the yback plate by suitable means. When the removable ring I5 ispressed into the back of the case, the fingers 24 are bent slightlyinward so that their resiliency serves to hold the ring I5 in place bypressure on the inner periphery.

The clock movement 25 is conventional and may be either synchronousmotor driven or spring driven. In this example a synchronous motor typeis shown. The movement 25 is supported by three screws 26 that passthrough rubber grommets 2'I to secure the movement to the back plateI'I. The movement 25 drives three hands 30 by means of co-axial shafts 3I.

The electric cord 23 passes from the movement 25 through a grommet 28and is coiled in channel 2I where it is held in place by fingers 22. Ifthe clock is to be used with a standard receptacle, just enough cord toreach the receptable is unwound from the channel. Thus there need. by noclock Will be sold to the consumer With one orf more rings I5. Each ringwill be furnished Withone color on the front and another on the back.

Thus to change the color v"sblieriie of "the"einemy the consumer needmerely piislii-n thefrntof-fthe ring releasing it from the springlingers 24.

lThe ring could then be reversedand replaced in the clock case bypressing on the back ofthe ring.

The spring ngers Wouldthen hold it 'platef- If the customer is notsatisfied with the colors furnished, he may purchase otherringslor'color his own ring. It will be'see'n' that both the manu: facturersand the dealersstock'mayJ-be reduced since only one ndel vneedbe`stocked-with a variety of rings to be offered tothe' 'customer vto givehim his choice of color.

Obviously, the invention is not-limitedl to the details the describedembodiment, since thes' may be modified. Moreover, it isnotindispensible that all of the ieaturesof the inventionbe usedconjointly sinfc'e "certain'vfeatures'fmay bev used to advantage indifferent combinations.

What is 'claimd.is:

1. A clock comprising acase` having a move= ment portion landanangeportion witnafplurality of openings 'therein surrounding saidmovement portion, a rreversible member positioned.l behind said an'geportion so' thatpar-ts"of""said'rnember are visible through saidopenings iandfinari's to frictionally support said inember beliir'l'dv'said flange portion, solely by contact between the periphery of saidreversible member antifa portion of said case so that said member canberenioved from the case by pressure onits fontfsiiriaoe.

2. A clock comprising a- 'casehavingv a-'r'riov'ement holding portionanda'indiciaportonsrrounding said "movement holding -r'p'rtien 'Withopenings in said casebetvveenlthe indioiaa 're= movable member and-ie'ans" to 'suppo'rt'said-ni rnber behind said indicia portici-lso thatl'it is 'visible through said openings,v said nibeij bein/'g supportedsolely by frictional contat between its periphery and a Vportion ofVsaid voase so that'it can be'remov'ed from'said casefby pressure ont-heiront of said member. Y

3. A clockv comprising 'arnoveinnn a'ase having 'a nar-ige portion 'anda movement portionpro'- jecti-ng from -saidfl-ange portion, "saidfiangeporl tion having a plurality'of openings therein, a removablemember; a back plate secured tofsafid lcase and supportingsaid-movement, a rplilrality"f fingers projecting Afrom the vperipheryof vsaid back plate and adapte'd "to "sip'portsaid "renr'v'- able memberbehind sai-d openin'g'ssothatportions of 'said member-'are Visiblethrogh said openings. y

4. A 'cio-ck comprising afnxovernent, a 'case *nava ing `a movementholding `portion"and yapoltion having openings therein 'sn-rn nfdigf'sanieve; ment holding-portion, a' baekpl e tor ment holding pbrtinandarplurali'ty of "spring fingers 'on-.said tack plate-adapted to hold 'ajre*- inni/abit?k 'fn'enib'i in' 'position' behind Said bijenings.

ment holding portion at the back and a second portion having openingstherein surrounding said movement holding portion, a back plate securedto said movement holding portion, a plurality of spring fingerspositioned around the periphery of said back plate and adjacent saidsecond portion and a removable member held in position behind theopeigsof said seoondpor'tion by said spring members.`

y6. A clock comprising a casing having a move- Anient portion and anannular portion surrounding said movement portion and having a series ofopenings therein, an annular plate adapted to be positioned behindisaidannular portion and ad- 1j'aen`t1s'aid openings and resilient means tohold said 'annular plate in position.

'7.v A clock comprising a casingr having an opening at the back, a timemovement positioned ifi-'said casing, a back plate secured to saidcasing and closing said opening, one series of bendablefngers positionedaround the periphery'of saidL back plate and adaptedto hold a'removablemember ink position behind said casing, and a sei'ond'l series of ngers'positioned Aaround said periphery andadapted to holda coiledelectr-ical cord on the back-o1 said casing.

B. A elo'ckicomprising a one piecebase `having avcentral portiongenerally hemispherical in sl1ape;ra'ring shaped portionvsurrounding andspaced-from said central portion,A a Vplurality'of spaced' memberslconnecting said central portion' tosaid 4ring portion With Vopenings linthe casing between adjacent membersfa detachableannular plate adapted tobepositioned inside of said ring pcnrtion and'means to support saidplate "on said Caseland behindsadmembers so that itis visiblethrough'said openings.

9. In a clock *having amovement and `a-cloclt case with al movementholding portion and a portion havingv spaced openings therein, thecombination comprising. a back platey for said clock 'case-'ai firstseries of resilient ngers'Spaced around the periphery of said back plateand adapted-'Ito 'hold fa member 'in position by' spring tension anda'seco'ndseries of 'fingers bent toward the center of saidback plate to"formclamping means :for rholdingfan' electric' cordfin position."

10. A lockfcompri'sin'g a movement, 'an electric oord connected to vsaidmovement, annonces@ endosing- "said movement, a prat'e attachedto theback" of saidl `case hav-ing a portion raised from the plane of saidfplate'around- `v'vhich*said eletric cordis Iadaptesil to `lie-coiled,and 'ase'ries of olainpng members spaced around theou'tside of saidp1-ate and adapt-edm nord 'a 'coiiedlcord tosa'io back plate.

l1. clock comprising a one'piec'e case-having a central portion, anannular portion surroundingy and spaced I*from'saidf central portion, aplurality of spaced members connectingvsaid central portion tov-saidannular portion with openings in said casing between adjacentmembersfand 'afdetachableplatefpositioned within the peripheryl of 'saidannular fportion f and behind -said spaced members so'th'at portions ofsaid plate a'revifsble through said openings.

"112. Afcloek 4co'rpiising a l'lilove'rrlent-; a 'oase having @movementportion and a ang-efportion with 'a piurali'tyof openings therein4s.u1'-1-o1'lading saiainovement portion; and a prete positbne'dbenino-said I1rar 1'.a=,- portion so that-portions of s'ai'dplatefarevisible-through 'said openings, sajid case having means 'to nord said'plate in'positin by friet-inner yeonttwt 'with -tn-e periphery of saidplate so that said plate may be removed from said case by pressure onits front surface.

13. A clock comprising a case having a movement portion and an annularportion surrounding said movement portion, said annular portion having aplurality of openings therein, and an annular plate positioned behindsaid openings, said case having means to contact the periphery of said.plate and hold said plate in position by frictional contact with itsperiphery.

14. A clock comprising a one-piece case having a movement holdingportion, a series of spaced numerals surrounding said movement holdingportion, and a ring portion sur-rounding and connecting said numerals;and a removable plate positioned behind said numerals so that it isvisible through the spaces between said numerals, said plate being heldin position solely by friction MAX E. SCHLENKER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 10 1,947,517 Brosilow Feb. 20, 1934 2,253,715 Lux Aug. 26,1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 124,163 Switzerland Jan. 2,1928 180,106 Switzerland Apr. 16, 1936 182,122 Switzerland Apr. 16, 1936468,952 Great Britain July 12, 1937

